“This won’t fly in college.” 

You’ve heard the warning before. Whether you were eating snacks in class or submitted an assignment late,  an authority figure that you know has probably uttered these words at least once. It was definitely an annoying thing to hear again and again as a high schooler, and students usually did what they wanted anyway. In college, you won’t really get called out for these behaviors, especially as the year progresses. However, that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you need to change. Professors will let you eat snacks in class, but they won’t dictate your study periods. Forming effective study habits is your job now, and if you don’t, they’ll give you a 0 and move on. College students, especially first-years, need structure and good study habits. Here are some personal tips from a first-year who looked at her course load and quickly realized she needed to develop better study habits in order to not get overwhelmed.

Violet Walsh | Contributing Illustrator

1. Use your phone wisely

We’ve all checked our phones during study periods. It’s a bad habit. We’re always looking for a notification that’s more entertaining than what we’re working on. Don’t use your phone in between breaks because chances are you’re going to start saying “one more minute,” end up spending 30 minutes on your phone, and then feel bad about it. When you’re on a break, things like taking a walk or reading a book clear your mind and don’t tempt you with algorithms and short videos. That being said, there are several apps that can help you to study, take notes, and stay focused, such as Khan Academy, Evernote, and Forest. These apps are good for note-taking, practicing, studying, and managing your time. If you have limited storage on your phone and don’t want to download new apps, a simple function that does wonders is Timers, which leads me to my next point. While there are apps that can help you reach your goals, you should still remain cautious of using your phone during study periods and set boundaries for what the phone can be used for (and for how long).

    2.  Study in timed increments

Short, repetitive, intermittent study periods — such as the Pomodoro Technique —  are good for retaining information and learning information in the first place.  Take 30 minutes to work hard and continuously — set a noticeable timer for 30 minutes. Take a 10-minute break and consider alternating subjects. These intermittent periods work to not only help you learn, but also to keep you from tiring out. Besides, there’s nothing more satisfying than working for a set period of time and thinking to yourself, “Hey, I actually got something done.” It’s important to note that, although I say 30 minute periods, the time doesn’t matter; it could be 20 minutes, 40, or one hour.  

    3.  Pick and make a good studying environment

Finding and creating a productive environment consistently can program your brain for success. If you’re trying to write a paper, sit upright at a table. When you’re watching a video for class, set aside all other distractions and close all other tabs on your computer to avoid your attention drifting. If you are sensitive to sound, find a quiet place or noise-cancelling earphones.  If you’re comfortable with controlled background noise, there are hundreds of nature sound apps and meditation playlists.. Location is important, too — whether it’s in the library, your dorm basement, or some nook on campus, find what works for you.

    4.  When you have things to get done, there’s no time like the present.  

Procrastinating is incredibly easy — I remember getting home from school every day and thinking to myself that I’ll start working at 4:30. It’s 4:31, and then I think to myself that it’s not the right time to work. Here’s the truth; numerically, the “right time” is a myth. Some people set aside a certain time slot. That works, but avoid the trap of stalling when picking a future time.  Study now.  2:57 is just as good a start time as 3:05. Prepare to study whenever, and set up your workspace early. It’s very easy to say, “I’ll study at 3:00 p.m.” You scroll on your computer. It’s 2:57, 2:58, nothing is set up. 2:59, nothing is set up. 3:00, you pretend not to see the time. 3:01 — oh, it’s not ending in a 0 or 5, so I’ll just wait until 3:05. You wait until 3:06. Repeat, repeat, repeat. The number the time ends in is completely arbitrary and should not decide when you work. Be ready to pick up a book at 2:37 and read, no matter how unappealing it is. If you absolutely need to set aside a specific time, again, make sure that you start setting up your workspace a few minutes early so that you are ready to go. When you start doing this, it gets easier to work — or, at the very least, you know what you have to do and how to do it.

    5.  Make sure to take care of yourself! 

Nutrition is important. Coffee is good for keeping you awake, but it shouldn’t be all that you consume, especially later in the day. Caffeine means energy, but it can also mean missing out on crucial sleep. You need substitutes for that energy that will last you. Bring snacks such as fruit and nuts;  unprocessed foods provide you with vitamins and may help you feel more energized for longer periods of time without keeping you awake forever. Uncaffeinated drinks and lean proteins, such as chicken, are also good for this. To study effectively, our mind needs the energy; provide it. Maybe use one of your breaks just to have a meal — there’s nothing better than that satisfying first bite. I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve been stressed over work with scrambled thoughts, and then I fixed that immediately by eating and drinking water. It’s a checklist that I run through a lot when I’m freaking out: Have I eaten? Have I had water? Have I slept well? Sleep is important, too — Non-REM sleep is vital for retaining and strengthening memories of what you learned in class.

Working is always a matter of “I’ll do it in five minutes” when it seems like you have the entire day. But the work gets more difficult in college, and the expectations rise, too. The course load can seem overwhelming, but the work can be made more manageable by making a schedule that works for you and using your time wisely. I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve freaked out thinking to myself, “How am I going to get all of these things done?” I think that we’ve all been there — working when you don’t want to is universally difficult, and while it will never be easy, it can be more effective.